Are we deluding ourselves, or are we just desperate?

I dread to think what my working hours are! But through starting off on sites like this I was able to prove my worth with more lucrative projects. Result is, I've got a full time job earning a decent wage writing. A lot of the time I don't get paid, because I'm researching the articles. But once I have the facts to hand, I can rattle off 6 in an hour - around £30 (a touch under $50) Not bad for doing something I enjoy!!!

Hi Malamar. I see and hear what you've said, often! My opinion is that if you need a bit of money for extras or to suppliment an already semi-decent income, and...if you enjoy it, then by all means, turn to sites such as this on the internet. But...do not hope to get rich, and especially not to get rich quickly. Also, don't quit your regular job. There ARE some people who make seriously great money online, and it is their career, but they are usually greatly talented and have a product (e-books, etc.) of their own to sell. These people, of course, are few and far between. Karen

I never earn money online enough to pay bills so I won't advise people to waste their time online maybe IT people or computer geeks know how but everyone else wouldn't we also have to be careful about some sites they might send virus or tracker that will end up costing us money instead

Personally, i use sites like this only for the pleasure of doing it...not to actually try to make money to make a living off of. I don't count on any of this money for my living expenses etc. I am lucky enough to have a full time job (40 hours per week) and am able to keep myself in a home, clothed nd with food to eat because of it (though sometimes barely it seems!) Whatever mony i earn online is just a bonus. I am not ativly trying to make a certain amount, i just enjoy doing it. Surveys, posting here, whatever. I guess i just don't have much of a life outside of work and spend so much time on the computer, and have been lucky enough to come across some sites where i get to do things that i enjoy, and have a good time doing...and they just might happen to have some monetary benefits. I feel bad for many people out there who have lost jobs or cannot find work, and i understand that every little bit helps, so that extra twenty bucks a month you bring in from online might get put to good use...but with the amount of time spent to make a mere $20 bucks? it it WORTH it? probably not...$20 wouldn't even pay Internet service for the month. I guss i just hope that people out there who are spending hours a day trying to make money online as they don't have much of any other income coming in are spending at least the same amount of time trying to find a job...because most people aren't going to be able to make a living off the meager earnings from these sites.

i think we are desperate and deluding our selves. Money can be made online but not quick and you probably won't get rich it takes time and hours of dedication and good planning and also a hell of alot of luck

You may be making a conclusion based on the experience of one person who seems to be a newbie in this thing. My brother has been making serious money off the internet for years now and so I know anyone can. I also have made a few bucks here and there even if I am just new to online writing. I am still discovering how best to earn here, and forums like this help me learn which sites are scam and which are not. I have not yet reached that point where I am dependent on this income, but my online writing has supplemented my salary just fine.

I'm assuming by writing you mean Helium, Getafreelancer etc? I did a few GAF projects - but most don't pay enough. I did get a few good clients out of it though, and they pay me direct now. Helium etc I don't bother with. It's not how a real writer works! I prefer constant content - you write then place it on spec for approval. It's as hit-and-miss as freelancing for hard copy magazines, but pays well. My agency work pays less, but is guaranteed work as I get paid per contract. I don't bid - I get offered work that I can accept or turn down.

Hello Malamar, My opinion is don't that you shouldn't knock it until you've tried it. I've been trying it out myself and I'm starting to come to the conclusion that writing can be a very lucrative market if you are dealing with the right companies. Your friend may be looking at it as a challenge just as I was because writing can always challenge us to get better. So while it might be looked upon as a time consuming task, you have to remember that it may not always be about the money. I say give your friend room to spread her wings and fly and if she comes to you asking for help, then you should take her under your wing and show her a better way. I think that far too many people are here online, thinking that they have all the answers when they really don't. Sometimes we need to just step back and realize that if we are doing the same things over and over, we'll never get anything accept for the same results, at some point you have to be willing to try something different. I don't know if you've happened to notice this or not but mylot too is just a writing site. Yeah we all are supposed to be here socializing but then we need to ask ourselves, how is all of this socializing taking place if not through our writing? Hope you get the point. If you'd like to discuss a few different options for yourself why don't you go ahead and add me as a friend and pm me. Thanks for taking the time to read my comment, hope you have a great day!

I know where your coming from on this and the other day I did have to just stop because this site in perticular can be very addictive. I actually did mow my fathers lawn this weekend and made good money doing so. (my dad knows Im a poor college student) but I say sometimes any little bit helps. 10 or 20 bucks a month is like my entire months gas money (I live really close to everything so I never drive far) I do however wish I had a real job outside of this place. I like doing this and plan to continue using this site as fun and to make a little extra cash but I also need a real job. Wish me luck on actually finding one though.